2025 felt like three years packed into one. We started the year fast, energized and focused, doing some of our strongest work right out of the gate. Then the landscape shifted. Markets slowed, tariffs created hesitation across industries, and many teams suddenly found themselves in a cycle of hurry up and wait.
Through all of it, we stayed Sprout. Steady, curious, and committed to helping people move ideas forward with clarity and purpose. Even in a challenging environment, more than 20 new clients chose to work with us this year. That trust says a lot about our team, our consistency, and the relationships we have built.
Celebrating 10 Years of Sprout
This year marked a milestone that means a great deal to me. Sprout Studios turned 10, a decade shaped by hustle, grit, and an unwavering belief in what design can do. Over 175 incredible employees have contributed to this journey, each leaving their mark on the culture, the work, and the momentum we have today. We celebrated with our extended community of clients, collaborators, alumni, and friends, and it reminded me that Sprout has always been more than a studio. It has grown into a creative community that reflects the values, energy, and ambition of everyone who has been part of it.
What We Learned Together
2024 opened the door to AI.
2025 required us to learn how to use it thoughtfully.
The speed of transformation was staggering. New tools, new expectations, and new pressures reshaped the creative landscape almost monthly. At Sprout, we approached it with curiosity and discernment. We looked for where AI could genuinely enhance our work and where human judgment, storytelling, and collaboration needed to lead. And we invested even more deeply in our team because tools may shift quickly, but talent and perspective are what elevate design.
Work That Made a Difference
Design at scale: More organizations asked us to help them align teams, simplify complexity, and create systems that drive real business impact. When design becomes a strategic engine, it sharpens decision-making, accelerates momentum, and delivers measurable outcomes that matter.
The physical digital bridge: Products, brands, and experiences no longer live in silos. Our ability to design across these touchpoints helped teams build cohesion, continuity, and deeper connections with the people they serve. Integrated thinking is essential to doing meaningful work in today’s environment.
Responsible design: We continued to push into modularity, responsible materials, and smarter lifecycles. Not because it is fashionable, but because it reflects the way we believe design should show up in the world. Thoughtful choices lead to better products, better systems, and better long-term outcomes.
And through it all, our team continued to raise the bar. Sprout works the way it does because the people inside it care deeply about the details, the relationships, and the impact we create.
How Sprout Grew From the Inside Out
Behind the scenes, we strengthened our systems, clarified roles, and tightened our operating rhythm. It is not glamorous work, but it is the work that frees us to do our best design.
We continued investing in the broader community through teaching, mentoring, and hosting gatherings that remind us that design is, at its core, a shared practice. The more we give, the more the work grows.
A Personal Reflection
Two decades into this field, I am more convinced than ever that what sets great design apart is authenticity and intention. People can feel when something is created with care, respect, and purpose. That has always been our north star.
This year challenged us to stay adaptable, humble, and focused on what we can control: how we show up, how we support one another, and how we bring ideas to life. We kept calm. We designed on. And the work reflected that.
Looking Toward 2026
I am entering 2026 with clarity, gratitude, and optimism. The relationships we have built, the talent we have nurtured, and the systems we have refined give us a strong foundation for whatever comes next. Design will only grow more important from here because the world needs empathy, systems thinking, and human creativity more than ever.
Thank You
To our partners, thank you for trusting us with your ideas.
To the Sprout team, thank you for your hard work, curiosity, and care.
To our contractors, vendors, and community, thank you for supporting the work that fuels our studio.
I am grateful for every conversation, sketch, experiment, and breakthrough we shared this year. Here is to designing with purpose, building with intention, and stepping into 2026 with confidence and optimism.
Onward, and happy new year.
-Jordan
